Zoo ensures animals are not left out in cold
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Chhat (Banur), December 23
Officials at Chhatbir zoo are using indigenous methods as well as gadgets to keep the animals warm this winter. As the mercury continues to fall, various types of mats and thatch roofs, made from locally grown grass that is easily available, have been put up in the animal enclosures to protect them from the chill. Besides these blowers, heaters, high voltage bulbs and other electric gadgets have been installed.

The animals’ diets have also been changed with the aim to keep them warm in the biting cold. “We’ve taken care of all those animals including deer, chimpanzees, tigers and birds who get easily affected by chilly weather. Within a few days the task of fixing thatch roofs over almost all the enclosures would be completed”, said zoo employees.

They said the animals that feel the cold the most have been covered with thatches and special sheets. Extra precautions have been taken for those animals that are more sensitive to winter. The mats are removed to provide adequate sunshine during daytime and placed again in the evening.

In some enclosures the shrubs and trees have been pruned to allow animals to bask in the sunshine. They are being given papaya instead of bananas that keeps them warm.

Chimpanzees are being fed on honey and bears on turnips while elephants are getting a lot of sugarcane this season. Sea cod oil is also given to endangered species to provide adequate warmth from within, said zoo officials.

“The process of installing thatches would continue for the next 20 days or so. Not all animals need special attention during winter as they adapt themselves to various seasons. On the other hand, some of them need special care and, if left out in the biting cold, they can fall seriously ill or eve die”, said a zoo employee.

Zoo director Tushar Kanti Bahera said all preparations for taking extra care of the animals during the winter have been completed and special measures have been taken for animals including tigers, lions, deer, bears and black swans.

Kalka, December 23
A minor girl of Tipra Railway Colony was allegedly gang raped here. According to police sources, Asha (16) (name changed), a resident of Tipra Railway Colony, adjacent to Kalka was gang raped for three days. The alleged crime was committed by a group of more than seven persons.

The sister of the victim told The Tribune that the latter was missing from her home since December 20 and the family members were searching for her on their own. The victim in her complaint had alleged that she had gone to the railway station for some work when teh accused took her with them and raped her continuously for three days.

She further alleged that they threatened her of dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident. A team of police late last night raided a house of Railway Colony, adjacent to GRP police station, Kalka, on a tip off. However, all accused succeeded to flee from the spot before the arrival of the police.

The police had arrested Saurabh Sharma, Jaswant Singh, Deepak Kumar, Baldev Singh, Rajiv Sharma, Hemant and Punit Kumar and registered a case under Sections 328, 342, 363, 366, 376G and 506 of the IPC against the accused after conducting the medical examination of the girl.

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 23
Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan has honoured Inderjit Singh, sarpanch of Haripur village in the Khera block, for proper utilisation of funds under the Nirmal Gram Puraskar Scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC said the scheme had proved fruitful for many villagers. He said the sarpanch had been honoured by the President of India for proper fund utilisation and had also been sanctioned an amount of Rs 50,000 for more development works at the village. These works included various development works like water supply, drainage and storage of rain water.
— TNS

Patiala, December 23
The Patiala Consumers and Telephone Subscribers Forum today celebrated National Consumer Day in which Renuka B Salwan of the Bureau of Indian Standard was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, she highlighted the need for the customer to use ISI marks on various products available in the market.

She gave detailed information about the services in the field of various products marketed and how to identify the genuine mark. She also gave detailed information about the hallmark to be used by jewellers while manufacturing gold ornaments.

Ambala, December 23
A large number of patients were diagnosed and given homeopathic medicine free of cost in a health camp organised by the district ayurvedic office at Jandli village adjoining Ambala City.

The camp was organised under the guidance of district ayurvedic officer Dr Satpal Bahmani. The camp was headed by Dr Kumud Sapru, homeopathic medical officer of General Hospital, Ambala City. Sapru also educated the villagers about various health care measures and general sanitation. She said more such homeopathic camp would be organised in the rural area of Ambala district in near future.
— OC

COURTS

Illegal Power Connections

HC upholds lok adalat’s orders
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 23
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the orders of permanent lok adalat, directing the Electricity Department to either fix separate meters in houses outside the lal dora, or recover electricity consumption dues in accordance with the reading of sub meters.

Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia asserted: “In the periphery of Chandigarh, certain illegal structures for residential and other purposes have come up and they are called as slums of Chandigarh...

Justice Kanwaljit said: “The Chandigarh administration unable to evict the unauthorised residents and remove the slums, on humanitarian grounds provided water and electricity connections to such residents. To facilitate grant of temporary connections, a notification was issued on April 18, 2002.”

The notification said a single point delivery connection would be allowed to a “leading person”. He, in turn, was responsible for further service connection to the residents.

Justice Ahluwalia asserted: “This notification defined leading person as a resident welfare association or an authorised leading person or a competent company or contractor. The leading person was authorised to collect the bills at the rates notified by the Chandigarh administration...

“The scheme further envisaged that a common electricity meter will be installed and the consumption of electricity meter so installed shall be shared between the members constituting a block as per actual consumption by each occupant as per the sub meters, which were to be installed at the clusters.

“It seems and can be reasonably inferred the leading person became a middle man between the end users and the Chandigarh administration. Not only had it led to disputes, quarrels, law and order problem, but also to exploitation of end users at the hands of the leading person…

“Another issue, which has emerged during operation of the scheme, was failure of the leading person to deposit the huge amount gathered from the end users. Sometimes, the leading person misappropriated the amount and the end users were deprived of electricity. Also, it happened otherwise, end users were not paying the amount and the leading person was fastened with liability….

“Permanent Lok Adalat concluded: Since the department agreed to give electricity to persons residing outside lal dora, we find no good reason for not installing separate meters in respect of each such consumer…. Of course, the department will take all appropriate measures like putting seals on these sub meters or any other step that it may deem appropriate”.

Taking up the administration’s appeal, Justice Ahluwalia asserted: Once the Chandigarh administration itself thought necessary to provide electricity to the residents, the same ought to be provided in the manner that is not only convenient, but save the end users from multiple disputes.

Chandigarh, December 23
Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal today issued notice of motion to the Union of India and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for February 12, 2010, on a petition seeking a ban on “Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka”.

Challenging manner and method of recreating alleged past life of a person in the serial, social activist Surinder Kumar Bansal said neither regression therapy was recognised as a branch of medical science nor it has been acknowledged as such by the Medical Council of India.

Once hypnotised, a person is led into a make-believe situation. Also, the doctor examining the person herself led by suggestive questions, the counsel further argued.

Chandigarh, December 23
A local court today granted bail to jolly, an alleged accused, in the recent Teachers Recruitment Scam.
He furnished a bail bind of Rs 25,000, however, the court did not let him off, as he is behind bars in another matter.

It must be recalled that Jolly, along with Hardev Singh, was arrested earlier in September for negotiating a deal with a woman to get her a job in the Education Department. The matter took a crucial turn with the police tracing a large number of calls to Jolly’s phone from the official telephone of former DPI Samwartak Singh, who claimed to be “in touch” with him for the Tourism Department’s work.

After his name sprung up in the controversy, Samwartak was removed from the post he was holding at that time.

Chandigarh, December 23
A general court martial (GCM) has convicted an ex-Army non-commissioned officer on charges of corruption and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment.

Havaldar Mam Chand of Military Hospital, Jalandhar, had retired from service when his case went for trial and had to be recalled from retirement under provisions of the Army Act.

The accused was tried on five charges pertaining to corruption. He was convicted on three charges and acquitted of the remaining two.

The General Officer Commanding, 7 Infantry Division, had convened the GCM with Col VV Bhaskar as the presiding officer. The court had assembled at Kapurthala on June 8 and the trial concluded yesterday.

CRIME

Gang of highway robbers busted
Our Correspondent

Mohali, December 23
The police has busted a gang of highway robbers with the arrest of three persons. Addressing a press conference here today, SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the police had arrested Isram Khan, Gaurav Bahadur, alias Gora, and Kiyam, all residents of Bibipur village in Uttar Pradesh in connection with the highway robberies.

The three were at present staying in Zirakpur. The police had recovered a Force Trax (Mahindra vehicle), five mobile phones, two motorcycles, Rs 10,000 in cash and six blankets from them.

The SSP said the police had got a tip off that persons allegedly involved in stealing vehicles and then using these for criminal purposes after putting fake number plates were coming from Rajpura to Panchkula via Zirakpur in a Force Trax vehicle. A naka was then laid near Baltana and the Force Trax was stopped. On checking the documents, it was found that it had a fake registration number and the three persons were rounded up for questioning.

Bhullar said the three had admitted that they had stolen the vehicle from Sector 34, Chandigarh, on December 3 and a case in this regard was registered there.

He said Balvir Singh, working with the public health department at Panchkula, had complained that on December 8 some persons had taken him in a vehicle from The Tribune chowk to a hotel in Baltana at 10 pm and deprived him of his mobile phone and an ATM card.

They later withdrew Rs 30,000 from his account. Amit, a resident of Phase I, Industrial Area, Chandigarh, had complained that when he was waiting for a vehicle at Dera Bassi, some persons made him sit in their car on December 11 and took away his mobile phone, Rs 900 and 88 blankets that he was bringing from Panipat.

Similarly, Surinder Singh, who worked as a driver, complained to the police that when he was waiting for a bus at Zirakpur some persons took him in their vehicle to Chaat village and deprived him of his mobile phone, a gold ring, Rs 6,250 and some important documents.

On December 9, a Deputy Commandant of the CRPF who was deployed at Doda, Jammu, was taken in the Trax to the Raipur Khurd area while coming to Chandigarh and looted. All these cases had been traced with the arrest of the three persons, added the SSP.

Bhullar said on questioning the three arrested persons had admitted that they had committed 11 thefts in Mohali as well. The three have been remanded in police custody by a Dera Bassi court.

Chandigarh, December 23
Thieves decamped with household articles after breaking into a house in Sector 46.Ravinder Shamro Nikhare of Sector 46-B reported that someone had stolen TV, a laptop, two gas cylinders and Rs 3,000 from his residence on Monday evening.

Liquor seized

The police arrested Reena of Colony No. 4 on Monday evening for allegedly carrying 15 nips of country-made liquor. A case has been registered.

Injured

A scooterist, Rajinder Singh Tiwana of PWT, Mani Majra was injured after being hit by a vehicle (CH-03-0066) near Fun Republic lights point on Monday night. He was admitted to government health centre at Mani Majra.

Zirakpur, December 23
A 65-year-old man died after being hit by a truck near Harmilap Nagar here this morning. The deceased was identified as Varinder Chadha, a resident of Sector 41-A, Chandigarh.

The police stated that the incident took place around 10 am when the deceased was walking towards Harmilap Nagar. When he reached near the rail track, the speeding truck hit him from the rear and he fell down on the road. He sustained serious head injuries.

The passersby immediately took him to Government Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula, where doctors declared him brought dead. He was working in a private company as an engineer. The investigating officer stated that the body of the deceased would be handed over to the family after conducting the postmortem examination. A case has been registered against the truck driver, who fled from the spot leaving behind the vehicle, he said.

SPORTS

Amarjit is NRI golf king
Says he will be back next yearDonald Banerjee

Chandigarh, December 23
Fortyfive-year-old Amarjit Brara from Chino Hills in Los Angeles stood tall among the 113 NRI golfers when he drived and putted his way to glory, clinching the Chandigarh Golfing Tour Trophy held on the greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club, Chandi Mandir SEPTA course and the Panchkula Golf Club.

Amarjit rallied after a poor first round, firing the best five over 77 card on the last day to emerge the king of the greens among NRI golfers.

The fifth edition of the Golfing Tour was a big draw this year with NRIs from 11 countries converging on the greens for three days of serious golf.

Amarjit, who plays with a handicap of eight, was placed in the 15-24 handicap section as the organisers put him at a handicap of 19.

Amarjit started with a poor 13 over par 85 in the first round. Even this poor score placed him at number four in the overall leaderboard. He came back with a six over par 78 card at the SEPTA course, placing him on a higher pedestal after the second round.

He was at his best on the final day when he returned the day’s best card of five over par 77 on the picturesque Panchkula Golf Club to edge out the overnight leader Jazzy Sihota for the overall Golf Tourism Trophy.

The Panchkula Golf Club greens were the best, said Amarjit as he talked about his triumph. About the Chandi Mandir course, his words were: “The setting is perfect”.

Amarjit, who is here on a three-week holiday enjoying the golfing facilities in the tricity, feels November will have been ideal for a family holiday. He is here to meet his parents.

His family is back in Los Angeles as children are busy in school before the schools close for the Christmas holidays.

“Had the tournament been held in November, I would have come with my family and enjoyed a one-month stay,” added Amarjit who described the weather perfect for
golfing.

Last year also, Amarjit was leading after two rounds. But he had to drop out in the last round because of pressing engagements.

Amarjit, who went to the US in 1986, is all praise for the Golfing Tour. “It is a good event. You get to know more people. Besides the organisers are doing a good job. We are well looked after.”

Amarjit was among 44 NRIs from Los Angeles who took part in the competition. The other entries from the US were from Chicago and California. From Canada, the maximum entries were from Toronto and Vancouver, he added.

Amarjit, who took to the game eight years ago on the persuasion of current Chandigarh Golf Club secretary Nippy Ghai, plays three times a week on the greens of either the Sierra Lakes or Empire Lakes in Los Angeles.

“I will be back next year to defend my title,” said Amarjit, as he again thanked the organisers for making the tournament such a “grand success”.

The fifth edition of the Golfing Tour was organised by the Chandigarh Golf Association in association with the tourism departments of Chandigarh and Haryana to project the tricity as a golfing destination.

Chandigarh, December 23
Strong contenders St John’s High School maintained their monopoly by winning the title for the fifth time in a row, beating hosts St Kabir High School, Sector 26, 3-1 in the final of the St Kabir Football Trophy for Under-13 conducted under the aegis of the Chandigarh Football Association here today.

St John’s scored through Harshil, Abihnav and Krishna, while the lone goal for St Kabir came through Manveer. With better coordination and quick short passes, St John’s dominated the game and created more opportunities to score.

St John’s got the lead in an unexpected manner when Harshil’s curling cross, which was going out, was sent into the St Kabir goal by right stopper as he attempted to clear the ball in the eighth minute. This put extra pressure on the hosts.

St John’s School got their second goal in the 25th minute. Sufi initiated the move and crossed it to Hunerveer in the midfield. Hunerveer gave a fine pass to Krishna who unleashed a powerful shot that booked no denial from the St Kabir defence.

St John’s maintained their pressure and in the 40th minute established a commanding 3-0 lead.

Gurteshwar Singh tested St Kabir’s advancing goalkeeper Ridhamjit Singh. Off the rebound, Harshil capitalised on the opportunity to score with a straight drive.

Despite three goals down, St Kabir School boys did not lose heart. They re-organised their game and started powerful forays into the rival territory.

Their move bore fruits in the 55th minute with a sizzling long-ranger by Manveer that foxed St John’s defence.

At the other end, St John’s had another chance to increase their margin midway through the game when Gurteshwar’s powerful shot on the run struck the pole before the ball went out. It was a close shave for St Kabir.

Vivek High School chairman HS Mamik, who is also president of Independent Schools Association, was the chief guest and distributed prizes among players. New Public School principal RD Singh also gave away prizes.

Chandigarh, December 23
AICF Haryana defeated AICF Chandigarh by eight wickets in the final of the T20 Champions Trophy for Under-17 at The Banyan Tree School Grounds in Sector 48-B here today. Jasmeen of AICF Haryana was declared the man of the series in the tournament organised by the All-India Cricket Federation.

AICF Chandigarh won the toss and elected to bat first. Fine bowling by Jasmeen (3 for 20) and Aneesh (3 for 16) helped Haryana restrict the innings of Chandigarh who were bundled out for 83 in 15 overs. Only opener Pardeep 17, Aman 27 (5x4s) and Vishal 14 faced the Haryana bowlers with some confidence. Inapt batting by the Chandigarh batsmen caused their collapse.

In reply, AICF Haryana did not face any difficulty in chasing the victory target of 84 runs. Haryana made 85 runs for the loss of two wickets in 16.1 overs.

Jasmeen, who was declared man of the match, remained not out on 24, which contained four fours. Hargurpreet made 17 before he was bowled by Aman (2 for 18). Openers Arun (10) and Yatish (14) gave their team a respectable start with a 23-run partnership.

Aman and Pardeep, both of AICF Chandigarh, and Harcharan Singh of AICF Punjab were declared best bowler, best batsman and best fielder, respectively. DP Azad was the chief guest and distributed prizes.